Underground-telegraph line



(No Model.)

W. D. B. SMITH. UNDERGROUND TELEGRAPH LINE. No. 256,397. Patented-.Apr.11,1882.

- WITNES$ESr JW V invented a new and useful Improvement in UNITED STATES V PATENT QFFrca.

WARREN DB. SMITH, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

UNDERGROUND-TELEGRAPH LINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 256,397, dated April 11, 1882.-

Application filed DeeemberS, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WARREN DB. SMITH, ot'Boston, Suffolk eoun ty, Massachusetts, have UndergroundTelegraph Lines, of which 'the following is a full, clear, and exact description. The object of my invention is to provide for conveniently laying underground-telegraph wires and for access to such-wires at all times. It consists in a receiving box or trunk provided with wire holders and clamps, as hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to'the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the box or trunk with the cover removed. Figs. 2 and 3 are cross-sections on the lines a: x and 1 y, respectively, of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is ahorizontal section through the lines 2 z of Fig. 2.

The box or trunk Ais made of wood or other suitable material, and is composed of continuous sides a a,"top b, in hinged or removable I sections of suitable length, and bottom pieces or strips, 0, that connect the'sides atintervals, the spaces between being open. I

, At suitable intervals the'box is provided with dovetail flanges d, which receive the wireholders e. The-wire-holders are strips-of suitable material, having diagonal slots e, that receive and retain the wires, and are readily removable from their holding-flanges d, so that they may be placed either end up. Between the holderse, at each side, are posts f, fixed on bars a, and slotted at f to receive the wires.

wedges h. The slots 9 of these plates are" placed to allow passages of the wires '1 that are supported by the holders 0 f, and the bars formed by the slots hold the wires down. The

slots g also receive independent wires clamped by keys or wedges k, as shown. It will be seen that the wires are thus held securely and sepa rate, whether the line be straight or bending sidewise or upward or downward.

The box is'to be placed preferably along the curb of the streets in cities, and the wires are thus readily accessible. The box or trunk will contain a large number of wires withoutrislc of their becoming misplaced. The open bottom allows water to run away.

Instead of a single plate slotted to form clamping-bars g, the plate may be divided on the dotted line shown in Fig. 2 to form separate pieces.

Having thus described my invention', I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Paten t The clamping-plate 9, provided with slotsg,

incombination with the box A and slotted wire'holders e f, substantially as shown and described.

' WARREN DBELL SMITH.

Witnesses:

GODFREY MORSE, JOHN HERBERT. 

